“‘Therefore
I have poured out
My indignation
Upon them.
I have consumed them
With the fire
Of my wrath.
I have returned
Their conduct
Upon their heads.’
Says Yahweh God.”
The result was that Yahweh, their God, poured out his wrath and indignation on their heads. He consumed them with a fire from his anger. There was no appeasing Yahweh.
“I will not continually accuse.
I will not always be angry.
The spirits would grow faint before me,
Even the souls that I have made.
Because of their wicked covetousness,
I was angry!
I struck them!
I hid!
I was angry!
But they kept turning back
To their own ways.
I have seen their ways.
But I will heal them.
I will lead them.
I will repay them with comfort.
I will create
For their mourners
The fruit of their lips.”
Third Isaiah says that the wrath of Yahweh will not exist forever. He is not going to be angry all the time. He will stop accusing them. Otherwise their spirits would grow faint, even his own beloved ones. Their covetousness had made Yahweh angry. He hid from them. He struck them, but they kept turning back to their evil ways. Yahweh was going to heal them. He was going to be their leader and comfort them. He would help the mourners. The wrath of God would subside.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 